(photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) David Ham) Dale Earnhardt, Jr’s., No. 88 National Guard car goes through final safety checks before the Crown Royal 400.

Bethesda staff members paced the red carpet at the Richmond International Raceway’s Crown Royal 400 Saturday prior to the green flag. They were the guests of honor.

Military members revved their engines for an opportunity to rub paint with their favorite NASCAR drivers and get a look under the hood of a 200 mph rocket.

The military was well represented at the race. The engines’ roar of the Navy’s Blue Angels outmatched 11,000 screaming fans with a flyover.

The drivers also thanked military members for the sacrifices they make at war and on the homefront. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., more commonly known as Junior, said he’s honored to race for the National Guard and he’s reminded of the military’s dedication everytime he suits up. His No. 88 car, he said, pays tribute to the troops and it’s his way of saying ‘‘thank you.”

‘‘NASCAR has always supported our men and women in uniform,” Earnhardt said. ‘‘The need for speed is a common desire shared by the military and NASCAR.”

Postal Clerk Seaman Apprentice Eric Pochrandt, a postal clerk in Bethesda’s post office, said he enjoyed the race, but wasn’t happy his favorite driver, Jimmy Johnson, came in last place.

‘‘It was supposed to be Johnson’s third straight victory at this track,” Pochrandt said. ‘‘I wanted to be here to witness it, but he came in dead last.”

John Rauckhorst, the National Naval Medical Center’s Liberty Program manager, said Morale, Welfare and Recreation has received numerous requests from staff members about setting up NASCAR events. He said the first area race, the Crown Royal 400, sold out in two days.

Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Sydney Cramer, an administrative assistant for Bethesda’s Personnel Support Detachment, said the race was his first as a spectator. He said he worked in the pits as a volunteer firefighter for NASCAR last year. Although he liked being able to relax and watch this time, nothing compares to working the pits during the race, he said.

‘‘You get to see everything going on,” Cramer said. ‘‘From the changing of tires to the refueling, you get to see everything up-close.”

Earnhardt said before the race he hoped to break his 71 race winless streak and, late in the race, it appeared he might when he took the lead in lap 382. However, Clint Bowyer took the lead with three laps to go and found himself in victory lane.

‘‘It really doesn’t matter who won because everybody had a good time,” Rauckhorst said. ‘‘That’s what this program is all about, to make sure everybody has a good time.”

Prior to their flyover, many of the Blue Angels flight team inspected the cars on pit row to see the horsepower they’re up against.

Gunnery Sgt. Mike Wason, navigator for the Blue Angels’ cargo plane, known as Fat Albert, said NASCAR and the Blue Angels have a lot in common because of military relies on both as recruiting tools.

‘‘It’s great for all of the troops to come out here and see the support from NASCAR fans [and drivers],” said Gunnery Sgt. Jamie Holdaway, Fat Albert’s flight engineer.